Monday, July 16, 2007

Courgette heaven and hell

When the courgette plants on my balcony started blooming at the end of May I got terribly excited with visions of a big crop! However, as the weeks passed and I saw one after the other little courgette shriveling up I was getting pretty depressed. I tried everything, lots of water, little water even pollinating the flowers myself but there were no fruits developing. So instead we've started eating the flowers to make the most of these plants after all (although they have been very pretty and that in itself is a good enough reason to grow them). They are very tasty coated in a batter of egg, flour and milk then fried in some olive oil. But they become even tastier when they are stuffed with some mozzarella cheese and half an anchovy fillet before coating and fried. I also made a variation by adding parmesan cheese to the batter and stir fried them for a pasta bowl with union and tuna. So lots of enjoyment from these plants in the end and perhaps I won't wait so long next year before eating the flower.

4 comments:

The Big Finn said...

We grow our courgettes only for the flowers. Of course, it's inevitable that the courgettes come too, and then were inundated with them and eating courgettes until we're sick of them.

Di said...

sorry the courgettes/zucchini didn't grow but the flowers are very pretty and tasty too!!

Jane said...

shame about the zucchini, but it's great that you have been eating the flowers...I've never been game enough to try!

barbie2be said...

i just bought a dozen courgette blossoms last night at the farmers market to stuff and fry! :) i'll be doing mine with mozarella and panchetta.